Holiday Inn Express Fullerton - Anaheim by IHG — Hotel in Fullerton

I am a visitor from another country & I had been travelling all over South California these past few weeks for holiday get-togethers with family & relatives. To make sure that I will not lose my passport (w/ visa in it), I left it as well as other precious possessions at my closest relative's house, making sure that I have a clear photo of my passport in my phone gallery in case identification is necessary. One time during this visit, I checked in at Pacific Edge hotel in Laguna Beach using the bio-page photo of my passport & had no issues. However, my check-in at Holiday Inn express on the 23rd was different. When Kent or Ken at the front desk asked for my identification, I immediately told him that what I had was a photo of my passport. He said the actual identification card was required. I repeated that I had a photo of my passport in my phone as well as credit cards under my name to back it up. I explained that I dont usually bring my actual passport because I dont want to risk losing it. He commented that he understands that I was protecting my passport but its strange that I travel without it. I asked him whats strange about it and he said something like its a must to bring the passport whenever travelling. I mentioned that I just checked in at a hotel using the same & had no issues. In response, he said something to the effect of that was weird & actually alarming. I asked him if theres any other way but he said no. I asked him what will happen to my confirmed booking & he said I will still get charged even if I dont get to check-in. I wanted to explain further that I only travel without my actual passport when Im going around within the state. Ofcourse I'd bring it if Im going out of state. But I realized he will never give me any consideration so I had no choice but to request my relative to bring my passport to me. After handing my actual passport to Kent, he returned it to me after just 10 seconds. All the hassle for just 10 seconds of verification.

I understand that hotels have different check-in rules but I hope there are options for the guests specially because they are usually from far places & are tired from travelling. I also hope that receptionists will at least make the guests feel like theyre trying to help and avoid making comments that are condescending. The way he said its strange that I dont bring my passport when travelling made me feel like its so weird & Im the only person on earth who does that. I was really clueless as to why he seemed so weirded out by that, that I started wondering if I actually looked suspicious.

I later on realized maybe Kent just doesnt know how difficult it is for foreigners to actually acquire a visa to the US so they make sure that they dont lose it.

Anyway, hope you guys take time to read this & consider coming up with alternative solutions in case a guest checks-in without a physical passport. With technology nowadays, Im pretty sure we will eventually get rid of physical documents & turn electronic. I hope holiday inn express would be able to catch up when that time comes. Kent was actually looking for the credit card that I used when I made the booking & I told him it was an electronic card but its the same account as the actual card I handed him. I only use that for online transactions. I was kind of expecting for Kent to insist on getting the actual electronic card & I was somehow prepared to show him my online banking details just to get it over with. Im glad it didnt...

I am a Spire Elite Member. My daughter and I stayed 4 nights at this hotel using points. We were upgraded to a King Suite and got our 4th night FREE. Great deal!

Everything was great. Check in went smooth even though we arrived after midnight. The clerk apologized for not having a Welcome Gift for us but offered us Points instead (which I prefer anyways).

My only complaint is about the breakfast. The food was kind of bland and tasteless. I've had better breakfasts at other HIExpress facilities. The staff was awesome. They were friendly and accomodating but the food could use little help.

They had a Free Shuttle to Disneyland which saved us a lot of money on parking. On the day we left we checked out, left our car at the hotel, and took the shuttle to Disneyland allowing us an additional 4 hours of fun before we headed home.

When we got back to the hotel we had a little mishap. Right after the Shuttle pulled away, my daughter realized she had left her cell phone on the shuttle. We were the last people off and the Shuttle driver was going on a break. My daughter checked at the Front Desk and fortunately the shuttle was parked at the hotel next door who shares the shuttle. So she walked over to retrieve her phone. She came back really upset saying her phone wasn't there and the Shuttle Driver said she must have left it at Disneyland. Not acceptable - she was using it on the shuttle before she fell asleep.

I went back over and was getting no help from the people at the hotel next door so I went back to our hotel and talked to "Kent" the supervisor. He then proceeded to go back there with me, talked to the people at the Front Desk, got the keys to the shuttle, and saved the day. I found my daughters phone on the bus. She was happy, I was happy.

Kent went above and beyond for us and I am so grateful that he did. Thank you Kent. Your are AWESOME.

We will definitely return for...

I chose this hotel because it was close to Disneyland, it was very affordable, and had good reviews. Check-in was quick, and the desk clerk was kind and professional. When I walked into the room, I should have gone back down to complain about the musty smell of the room. We were really tired from traveling, we had to get up early in the morning, and we were only staying two nights. We would be spending the next two days at the Disney parks, so we would really only be in the room to sleep. The bed was comfortable, and I slept well. The next day around noon while at Disneyland, I suddenly got a really bad sore throat. By midday, I started losing my voice. The next day, we checked out and went to another hotel that I already had reservations with. When I opened my luggage after leaving this hotel everything in my suitcase smelled musty. My son's entire wardrobe and his suitcase smelled musty as well. That same day, I went and took a covid test to make sure that I wasn't sick. It came back negative. The musty room caused some sort of infection in my throat. So, if you stay here, if the room smells musty, check the filter in the air conditioner. I didn't know this was possible until I read up on what was going on with my throat that you could do this in a hotel room air conditioner. I was in extreme pain for days. My throat felt like it was being cut up with razor blades. When I returned home, I was diagnosed with laryngitis more than likely being exposed to mold or bacteria. I am an IHG member, and I have stayed at many IHG properties, and some have been wonderful and some not so much. I just want to be honest about my experience. The staff was very kind, this property is a little tattered, it could use an update in some areas, but again it's very close to Disney, a good price, but if your room smells musty be sure to get...